Is Covington, KY tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Northern Kentucky Water District. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Northern Kentucky Water District supplies Covington (259,949 people).
Water system
Northern Kentucky Water District
259,949 people · Surface water · EPA ID KY0590220
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Kentucky, 9 of 230 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 0 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Kentucky results.
Covington homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Covington city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Independence 6 mi Northern Kentucky Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Florence 7 mi Boone County Water & Sewer District | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Georgetown 53 mi Georgetown Municipal Water Service | Above limit | 5 ppb |
| Frankfort 61 mi Frankfort Plant Board | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Lexington 69 mi Kentucky American Water | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Nicholasville 79 mi Nicholasville Water Department | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Covington ZIP codes (2)
- 41011
- 41014
Questions
Is Covington tap water safe to drink?
Northern Kentucky Water District has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Covington, KY?
Northern Kentucky Water District, which serves 259,949 people.
Does Covington tap water have PFAS?
Northern Kentucky Water District had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Covington homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 75% of Covington homes as built before 1980 (Kentucky: 47%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Northern Kentucky Water District's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.